Sheet turning machine

Abstract

A sheet turning machine includes two slidable platforms, one of which is ascending while the other is descending, the upward travel of one of the platforms being synchronized with the downward travel of the other platform. The ascending platform is arranged between two vertical guide columns solidly fastened to a fixed chassis, while the descending platform is guided between two columns solidly fastened to a frame which tilts about the fixed chassis. The ascending platform is arranged under the field of action of a suction pump. A turning bridge is arranged above the descending platform and includes an endless conveyor belt which has a lower or return run part which diverges in a direction perpendicular to the columns guiding the descending platform. At the front of a roller whereat the endless belt returns, there is an air generator capable of maintaining a sheet of paper fixed to the belt while the sheet, travelling with the belt, passes from the upper run to the lower or return run.

I claim: 
     
       1. A machine for inverting or turning over material in sheet form, said machine comprising: a chassis;   first substantially vertical guide means supported by said chassis;   first platform means, guided for movement along said first guide means, for supporting a stack of sheets to be inverted;   a frame pivoted to said chassis, said frame supporting second guide means, said frame being pivotable from a first position whereat said second guide means is inclined to the vertical to a second position whereat said second guide means is substantially vertical;   second platform means, guided for movement along said second guide means, for supporting said stack of sheets after they have been inverted;   means for moving said first platform means in an ascending direction along said first guide means, and for thereby sequentially moving said stack of sheets to a removal position located above said first platform means;   means, located at said removal position, for sequentially removing the topmost sheet from said stack of sheets and transferring the thus removed sheets to an inverting position located above said second platform means;   means, located at said inverting position, for sequentially receiving said removed sheets from said removing and transferring means, for inverting said sheets, and for sequentially depositing the thus inverted sheets onto said second platform means, when said frame is in said first position thereof, said receiving, inverting and depositing means comprising an endless belt having an upper substantially horizontal run for receiving said sheets from said removing and transferring means and a lower run directed substantially perpendicularly to said second guide means when said frame is in said first position thereof, a roller about which said endless belt passes between said upper and lower runs thereof to invert said sheets, and air generator means for directing a jet of air toward a sheet on said endless belt and passing around said roller to thereby maintain said sheet in contact with said endless belt; and   means for moving said second platform in a descending direction along said second guide means, and for thereby sequentially moving said stack of sheets after inversion thereof away from said inverting means.   
     
     
       2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first guide means comprises a pair of guide columns extending vertically upwardly from said chassis, and said second guide means comprises a pair of guide columns fixed to and extending perpendicularly from said frame. 
     
     
       3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said removing and transferring means comprises suction roller means for separating the topmost sheet from said stack of sheets and transferring said topmost sheet toward said upper run of said endless belt.